Kayak Paddle & SAV Data Collection [rain date July 16 at 4 p.m.]

Join The Nature Conservancy at Mason Neck State Park.

NOTE: The rain date for this event will be Thursday, July 16 at 4 p.m.

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is extremely important to the ecology and health of the Chesapeake Bay, and yet they were all but wiped out over the last 50 years. Recent environmental efforts are improving water quality, and SAV is starting to slowly make a comeback. We need to document its recovery so that we can plan for hands-on restoration efforts.

In support of the SAV Watchers Program, TNC is partnering with Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Maryland Department of Natural Resources to ground-truth and collect data on the condition of SAV beds in the Bay.

Come join TNC’s Seagrass Monitoring Coordinator, Mary Gartner, to get out on the water to learn about SAV, Bay ecology, and how to identify and collect important data on SAV. Plus, we will get to have some fun paddling, exploring, and watching birds and other wildlife! Feel free to bring your binoculars along.

Attendees will need to bring their own canoe, kayak, or SUP and personal floatation device. We may have 1-2 extra kayaks if you need to borrow one, but we can't guarantee their availability.

Please contact Mary Gartner, [email protected], if you have any questions or are interested in borrowing a kayak.

The rain date for this event will be Thursday, July 16 at 4 p.m.

You will receive additional details by email about a week before the paddle that will include waivers.

about SAV before getting in the water.

Photo by Dixie Sommers